November 21

Small fires were still burning in parts of the castle, with around 125 firefighters remaining at the scene. The magnificent St George's Hall was thought to have been one of the most severely damaged. The hall's interior is wrecked. The roof has collapsed, leaving piles of charred timbers scattered on the floor, although the walls appear to have survived intact.

25 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

November 21, 1977

HEAVY snow brought many parts of Britain the first real taste of winter today. In Scotland falls of up to 11 inches were reported; there was heavy snow in Wales.

EGYPTIAN President Sadat told the Israeli Parliament today that the 1973 October war should be the last between Egypt and Israel. He pledged to do everything to assure Israel's security and said all disputes must be settled through peaceful negotiations.

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

November 21, 1952

FAR fewer marriages would come to an untimely end if every couple were able to start married life together in their own home, however humble, free from relatives' interference, the London Magistrates Clerks' Association said today.

In a memorandum, they also said it was beyond the competence of the law to compel a woman to be an economical housewife, but it should be able to deal with a husband's failure to provide his family with adequate maintenance without requiring his wife to leave him. The Association recommended amending the law so that a husband found guilty of wilful neglect should have to provide reasonable maintenance for his wife and children.

100 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

November 21, 1902

DANIEL Swailes, a Manchester oyster dealer, was called upon by Borough Magistrates this morning, to find sureties to keep the peace for three months, and pay the costs of the case, or fourteen days imprisonment.

From the evidence offered against him, it appeared that Arthur Brotherton, a telegraph clerk, boarded the 11.5 car from Bradshaw to Bolton on Thursday night when defendant, who was the only passenger, said to him, "Conta feight?". Though Mr Brotherton ignored him, he repeated the query several times before being informed that Mr Brotherton was prepared to take care of himself, and did not desire to "leave part of himself on defendant, or visa-versa."

When Mr Brotherton dropped off car in Bridge-st., defendant followed him. On reaching Police Sergeant Bateson, Mr Brotherton informed him of the annoyance he had received, and when asked for an explanation defendant pulled off his coat, and wanted to test his pugilistic abilities with the officer.

A crowd gathered round, with result that defendant was locked up.

Defendant, who pleaded that after being teetotal for eight months drink affected him so that he did not know what he was doing, indignantly denied that he talked "counthrified", saying that he had been brought up in Cottonopolis.